"Yet Another Christian Blog" as the title says. Plenty of religious fluff on the internet nowadays. So how do you know which ones are right? How about the ones that follow the written Word of the Bible?

Sound too easy? It is easy! We read the Bible to learn about God's plans and will for our lives. I created this site mainly to document my studies for my own benefit and to provide some online sermons. See you on the other side?

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

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Don't we all want the Joy of Christ? Don't we all want to be able to smile and be happy in the hard times? Christ promises that if we are in Him and followers of Him, that we will have His joy. It is a promise:

13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

But what exactly is the "Joy of Christ"? Lets first look at the definition of the word. It is described as an emotion of the expectation of good or good fortune. It is also described as a "A glorious and triumphant state". Wow! That sounds nice. Joy clearly is not the same as just being merely happy. It goes beyond that. It is a state. What puts us in that state? Knowing what Christ has done for us will put us in that state.

Christ has conquered the grave and death and with Him we can too. By being in Christ we become children of God and joint heirs with Christ:

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together.

12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13 But we will not boast of things without [our] measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.

We must not compare ourselves to others in order to justify behaviors or sin. The bible is our moral compass and not man.

2 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that [are] with thee [are] too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.

Sometimes God will make us weak just so we will have to rely on Him. If we are not relying on God, then who are we relying on? Who would we be trusting in?

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Notice the word distress here. Stress does a lot of terrible things to a person. Both physically and mentally. Stress is caused by our experiences in life. The more experiences that we have, the more experienced we are. The more experiences we have, the more knowledgeable we are. Older people are more knowledgeable than younger people because they have been through more experiences.

So many experiences can be negative. Yet how do most people learn? Is learning by positive experiences or negative experiences more effective? Most certainly, our lives are more quickly shaped by negative experiences and stresses. It is interesting to note that diamonds are formed because the parent mineral, graphite, undergoes great stress. The end result is that a diamond remains. When you squeeze an orange, you get orange juice. What happens when us Christians get squeezed? Do we produce something sweet or do we just put out vinegar?

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

So show no worry over stresses and negative experiences in life. God is in control. Everything that you experience can be used for good and for the glory of God. And that is what Christians are supposed to do right? To Glorify God.

These are few bible terms in the NT that commonly get confused or misunderstood. Even worse some don't even know them at all.

Justification:

My status. How God looks upon me. Am I a child of His or not? Justification is a gift of God. It is not earned by merit or good deeds. Abraham was justified long before the Law. We are Justified to God through our belief in Jesus Christ. A person that is justified will be declared as righteous in God's holy court, but this does not mean that his heart was ever changed. Justification is the separation from the penalty of sin.

Sanctification:

This is the next step after justification. You might be declared as righteous, but now you need to become righteous. Sanctification is what God does in somebody. The gradual process of separating a person from sin and to holiness. It will never be fully completed here on Earth. Sanctification is separation from the power of sin.

Glorification:

All that are justified, will be glorified in heaven with Jesus Christ. Glorification is the separation from the presence of sin. In our current state, we all fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23).

Redemption:

Set free by paying a ransom or buying back. Jesus' death was in exchange for our life.

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

33 But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Regardless, to keep the law faith is required.

How was Abraham counted as righteous when the law wasn't even given yet? How was David counted as righteous under the law after adultery?

13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, [was] not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if they which are of the law [be] heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, [there is] no transgression. 16 Therefore [it is] of faith, that [it might be] by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;